Even if your tablet is in a case, at that place's always a adventure it could end up with a broken screen one day. Whether you lot drop it, sit down on it, or betrayal it to extreme heat, it'south not that hard to crevice the glass digitizer or the LCD below information technology.

If that happens to you, is there any chance you can really replace your tablet screen with a new one? The answer is yep, but how easily depends non only on your own skills but what model of tablet you take.

Here are some of the key things you need to know if you're thinking about replacing a broken tablet screen.

Inquiry Your Tablet

Before you do anything, yous should Google your tablet to run across if anyone else has successfully fit ane with a new display. Make sure you search for the exact model. Y'all should hopefully find teardown guides and YouTube videos that demonstrate how to become the tablet apart and fix it.

For this guide, we're demonstrating with an Amazon Fire HD 10 (2017).

Kindle Fire HD 10 with smashed screen

Doing your enquiry beforehand will enable you to see how difficult information technology is to replace the screen---if it's possible at all. You might decide information technology's not worth the expense or that information technology'southward best left to a professional person.

In one case y'all're happy information technology'due south doable, it'southward fourth dimension to look for a replacement screen.

Buying a Replacement Tablet Screen

To find a new screen, just Google the name or model number of your tablet, followed by "replacement screen". There are numerous specialist sellers who stock replacement parts for tablets. Make sure to read customer reviews to assist you discover a reliable seller.

ebay purchase of LCD for Kindle Fire HD tablet

Another adept source of spare parts for tablets is eBay. Over again, be certain to search for the exact model of tablet yous want to prepare, considering even different iterations of the aforementioned device can accept different screens. For example, the 2017 Amazon Fire Hd 10 will have a unlike screen to the 2019 edition.

As always, look at eBay sellers' feedback to assist you decide on who to buy from. Watch out for items coming from Cathay besides, as they will usually take a long fourth dimension to arrive and may incur import fees.

You may run across digitizers being sold separately from LCDs. While information technology's possible to replace these separately, they're normally glued together, making it extremely difficult to dissever them. In most instances, you should buy a combined digitizer and LCD unit of measurement.

Equally well as a replacement display, you'll demand to buy the right tools to fix your tablet---assuming yous don't already take them.

tools for replacing a tablet or phone screen

Typically, that will include:

  • Small Phillips head screwdriver
  • Small-scale Torx head screwdriver
  • Plastic spudgers
  • Plastic plectrum (or old credit/membership/shop carte)
  • Optional suction cup to aid position the display

You'll often go some of these tools included with your replacement display. All the same, the quality varies, and in that location'due south no guarantee they'll fit your tablet. If you notice that's the case, then you should expect to buy better tools separately. Toolkits for opening phones and tablets can exist institute online for a few dollars. (https://world wide web.amazon.com/Ewparts-Uniersal-Screwdriver-Removal-Motorola/dp/B07NJPFG95/)

For almost tablets, you're as well going to need a heat gun to become the screen and the dorsum casing off. It's common for them to exist glued in place, and warming that glue makes it possible to unstick information technology.

Y'all'll also demand to supercede the glue. There are specialist glues you can utilize for this purpose, but other adhesives may work equally well. Just don't use anything brittle like superglue or weak like wood gum. In a pinch, double-sided tape will work, but only short-term.

Finally, make sure yous wear safety goggles. When you're removing the display from your tablet, the glass may shatter, sending debris flying.

Opening a Broken a Tablet

Although it varies per model, yous commonly have to remove the back from your tablet before yous can even begin to take off the broken display.

inserting plectrum tool into Kindle Fire casing

If you're lucky, this is a uncomplicated instance of pulling off the back or using your spudgers to pry it away. Unfortunately, about tablets these days are glued together---forepart and back. There are some signs that manufacturers are open to making their devices more than repairable, but there's still a lot of work to be washed in this area.

If your tablet's back case is glued on, you lot'll need to advisedly warm the casing around the edges using your heat gun. Then you lot need to push your spudgers betwixt the back case and the body of the tablet to break the gum and get them autonomously.

Kindle Fire with back case off

When you've gained access to the insides of your tablet, y'all will probably have to remove most, if not all, of the components before you lot can safely have the screen off. That usually means the battery, the motherboard, cameras, various other cables, the power switch, and the display itself.

Removing speaker from Kindle Fire

When disconnecting any cables, utilize your plastic tools to practice information technology gently. Never exert unnecessary forcefulness, because you could hands break something.

Replacing a Tablet Screen

If, like almost tablets these days, yours has a glued-on screen, yous're going to need your heat gun again. I section at a time, advisedly warm up the edge of the screen with your heat gun, but don't linger in one identify also long---you don't desire to melt any plastic parts below the glass.

Heating up Kindle Fire screen with heat gun

Next, try to button a plectrum or credit card betwixt the glass and the torso of the tablet. It should go in with a piddling force, but if it doesn't effort warming up the screen some more. Once you get the plectrum in, try to slide it around under the screen, further breaking the glue.

Kindle Fire screen broken by plectrum tool

Alternate between heating the screen and prying it abroad. Ideally, you won't pause the drinking glass in the process, but information technology's not a trouble if you practice. After all, the screen is already broken.

Putting Your Tablet Back Together

Subsequently removing the sometime display, put your new screen in place, and replace the motherboard and battery. Reconnect all the cables and cameras. Attach the cable for the new display and then replace the screws.

Earlier going any further, this is a good opportunity to test if the new display is working. Plough on the tablet, bank check you lot get a film, and that the touch functionality is operating as normal.

clothes pegs holding Kindle Fire screen in place

Assuming all is okay, return the back casing to how it was originally. And then glue the screen on, and utilize clothes pegs to hold it in place while it dries.

Is It Worth Trying to Replace a Broken Tablet Screen?

While it'due south usually possible to supervene upon a broken tablet screen, information technology'south non always like shooting fish in a barrel. Whether it's worth it depends largely on how much a replacement brandish will price you, compared to the price of but ownership a new tablet.

Kindle Fire with fixed screen

While you might enjoy the claiming, fixing your own electronic devices is ever going to exist a gamble. It's usually much cheaper than buying a new tablet or paying a repair shop, but if yous get it wrong, then it's money downwards the drain.

The most important thing is to do your research before you start. If information technology'due south also expensive or beyond your abilities to fix your tablet yourself, it's best to detect out sooner rather than later.